KARONGA DIOCESE DONATES MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES TO KARONGA DISTRICT HOSPITAL
In an effort to assist in healthcare services delivery in Karonga, the Karonga Diocese on 5th April 2024 made a donation of hospital beds, mattresses, syringes and face shields to Karonga District Hospital (KDH). The Health Desk Officer (HDO), Mr. Joseph Kimangila represented the Diocese in the handover ceremony where the items were received by the Director for Health and Social Services (DHSS), Mr. David Sibale.
Speaking on behalf of Karonga Diocese, Mr. Kimangila highlighted the continued commitment of the Diocese in assisting communities in the three districts of Rumphi Karonga and Chitipa in matters of healthcare. “The Bishop of the Karonga Diocese Martin Anwel Mtumbuka is committed to ensuring that the people in the Diocese are of good health. After receiving a donation of the medical equipment supplies from Cross Catholic Outreach (CCO) in the United States of America, the Bishop thought it wise to also share with others hence the donation to KDH,” Kimangila stated.
The DHSS expressed gratitude towards the Diocese for the donation stating that; “The institution is facing a problem of inadequacy of various medical equipment and supplies. The beds, masks, syringes and needles will assist in saving costs to buy such items for KDH”. He also added that the general public should know that Karonga Diocese and the Ministry of Health are good partners and they work together in various ways citing the Covid-19 pandemic during which the Diocese also made a donation of various items. Mr. Sibale also assured the Diocese of continued collaboration from the Ministry of Health.
KDH has received ten adjustable hospital beds and mattresses, forty cartons of face shields, needles and syringes. Other equipment that Karonga Diocese received have been distributed among its health facilities including St. Cynthia Health Center, St. Clara Health Center and the recently constructed Health Center located in Zambwe area, all in Chitipa district.
By Noel Chatepa.
CCJP Improves Relationships between Health Workers and Communities
By Deodatus Muriya (Monitoring and Evaluation Desk Officer)
The Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese has contributed to the improvement of relationships between health workers and communities in Karonga and Chitipa through the Health Governance Project funded by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA).
This was revealed during the Review and Planning meeting the Desk held at Viphya in Chilumba from 26th to 28th December, 2017. The meeting reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the ‘Promotion of High Quality, Accountable and Responsive Public Health Service Delivery’ project. The meeting also reviewed the Detailed Implementation Plan of the project.
The Justice and Peace Desk Officer, Mr Louis Nkhata, said he was impressed with the progress the project is making against the indicators as presented in the report from the Monitoring and Evaluation Desk. He further said that through capacity building of community structures, community awareness and engagement with duty bearers, the project has strengthened collaboration between health workers and people from the communities.
Mr Nkhata said that the main focus now would be to engage the Central Government to reveal the drug budget as allocated to different health facilities since drugs are purchased centrally from the Central Medical Stores and supplied directly to health facilities. He even district hospitals are not aware of the funds allocated them in terms of drugs and the quantity of drugs they are supposed to receive.
CCJP Empowers Youth and Women to Demand Quality Health Services
By Norbert Mzembe
The Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese has empowered the youth and women to demand quality health services from public health facilities in Karonga District.
Moses Mwakisalu, one of the facilitators from the Justice and Peace Desk, said the organization has learnt that women and youth in the district face challenges to access quality health services in various health facilities. He further said, the youth and women do not demand for these services due to lack of capacity.
Mwakisalu mentioned that the population of this country largely comprises of the youth who contribute much to the development of the nation hence the need for them to participate in decision making processes that would help improve their health standards.
“It is for this reason that we have empowered the youth in Karonga District to accessibility of high quality health services for all regardless of their age,” said Mwakisalu.
He said, “We are training these youths and women to be knowledgeable in health issues because they are the heaviest users of health services. In most cases they are deprived of their right to health services by duty bearers due to ignorance.”
He further expressed optimism that following the training, youth and women in Karonga District will now be able to enjoy health services being offered in the district by demanding accountability from duty bearers where necessary.
Karonga District Youth Officer (DYO), Jessie Mwansambo, commended the initiative by the CCJP saying it will really transform the living standards of the youths.
“We as the DYO, we are behind the initiative and my office will negotiate with the district council to give room for the youths to address their concerns pertaining to the challenges they are facing when accessing health services,” said Mwansambo.
She emphasized that being the leaders of today and tomorrow, youths deserve quality health services so that they can contribute effectively to the development of the nation.
Commenting on the matter, chairperson of the Health Service Committee for Karonga District Council, McDonald Tengamowa Munthali, urged the participants to collaborate with Health Advisory Committees in their areas. He also urged them to channel their complaints on health service delivery to the District Council.
The CCJP is empowering the youths and women to participate in the management of public health services through its Osisa funded health governance project. The project is being implemented in Karonga and Chitipa districts.
Karonga CCJP Calls for the Provision of Essential Drugs and Medical Equipment to Sere Clinic
By Ephraim Nyirenda – TFM
The Justice and Peace Desk of Karonga Diocese has called on government to ensure that essential drugs and medical equipment are provided to Sere Clinic in Kayerekera to make it fully functional.
Speaking at an interface meeting held at Kayerekera, Justice and Peace Desk Officer for Karonga Diocese said communities in Kayerekera have a right to timely appropriate health care. This he said, entails availability of well supplied health facilities.
He further urged communities to use every means possible to engage duty bearers to fulfil their health rights.
“You need to utilize every means at your disposal to make your voices heard. You need to make noise through different platforms like media, panel discussion, interface meetings to make the duty bearers act on your plight.
During the meeting, community members of Kayerekera lamented that Sere Clinic is not functional months after it was handed over to Karonga District Council by Paladin Africa a part of corporate social responsibility. The facility was handed over without essential drugs, furniture and medical equipment
“We are struggling to get medical services for us and our children yet we have a health facility in our area. The nearest health facility is at Wiliro, fifteen kilometres away. Due to transport challenges in our area, we walk on foot to reach the facility which is also poorly stocked.” Said one community member.
She asked the government to equip Sere Clinic to be providing maternity and outpatient services to Kayerekera community to ease their challenges.
Speaking in solidarity with his subjects, Paramount Chief Kyungu expressed dissatisfaction with the clinic which was handed over without drugs, chairs and medical equipment.
“When I was invited to grace the handover ceremony, I did not turn up because I did not want to receive an incomplete thing.” He said. “I will be available during the official handover when the government will be handing over the clinic with all equipment available.”
Answering on behalf of Karonga District Council, Isaac Mkandawire who is the Council’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, said the council was engaging the Ministry of Health to provide necessary support to the clinic by January, 2018.